A NEW SEASON
PENTECOST SUNDAY 2013
INTRODUCTION
The Christian Calendar has definite dates to celebrate special occasions. The main ones being Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.
Sometimes God uses a set date – sometimes He sets a new date eg Toronto 4th Jan 1994
BUT – as Christians, we can celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost EVERY DAY!
Today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost in the park is good, but Pentecost in our heart is better. We need to remember the purpose of Pentecost - and seek God for more power from heaven to be His witnesses from Northampton to the ends of the earth!
LAST SUNDAY
The presence of the King amongst us
The dove is here to stay – signifying a new season has began
MONDAY AT ELDERS MEETING
A sense of God’s holy presence with the following:
Josh 5v12-6v5
Background.
After 40 years wandering in the wilderness because of unbelief, Israel had now crossed the river Jordan and were in the Promised Land at a place called Gilgal
They celebrated the Feast of Passover, and for the first time ate the produce of the land
The day after they ate the produce of the land the manna ceased – signifying a new season had began
Joshua encounters the Lord and told to take off his sandals – this is holy ground
He is given instructions about taking Jericho
Walk around Jericho once per day for six days
On the seventh day walk around seven times
Interpretation and Application
As Elders/Ldrs we are to symbolically walk around Northampton once per day for six days (Mon to Sat)
On the seventh day (Sun) we are to walk around Northampton seven times
God also said to us “Be still, and know I am God. Just be still, be in reverence, no need for action, just be still”
Acts 1v8
On going to bed Brian was reminded of Acts 1v8 “And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall BE MY WITNESSES in Northampton, in the county, in the nation, to the ends of the earth”
I believe the Joshua and Acts scriptures are linked together. We are looking for the walls (mountains of influence) to come down so we can take Northampton for Jesus – and God is going to give us power to be His witnesses – in our town, county, and nation. It is very important to understand that the power is given to be His witnesses – and not just to have ‘lovely charismatic meetings’!!!
Joshua and Acts together
Therefore, as we walk around the walls of Northampton in prophetic symbolism – God also wants to empower us to be His witnesses – to impact our town and region with the supernatural power of the Kingdom of God – and to bring Kingdom values and influence to the walls (mountains of influence) within our society.
In 1975, God gave Bill Bright (Campus Crusade), Loren Cunningham (YWAM), and Francis Schaeffer, the same vision about seven mountains of influence (walls) within society, and said to them “If we can influence each of these areas for Christ, we will win the culture of our nation”. These seven mountains are:
Family
Religion
Education
Media
Government
Business
Arts & Entertainment
Therefore, the challenge for each one of us - is to seek and demonstrate the supernatural power of the Kingdom - and to bring Kingdom influence to at least one of these mountains within our society – ‘so the walls come tumbling down’!
TUESDAY PFR
Brian A – When Man Utd were celebrating winning the league by going around Manchester in a bus, there must have been a building up and growing sense of anticipation in the crowd as the bus got nearer to where they were.
So it should be for us – a building up and growing sense of anticipation of what the Lord is about to do amongst us, and in our town, county, and nation.
WEDNESDAY PFR
Isa 1v19 – If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land
Use NKJV, ERV, MSG
Num 13v1-14v11
The first time around Israel were in unbelief and were not willing and obedient. Therefore they did not eat the good of the land, but were sent into the wilderness for 40 years.
God has called us to ‘walk by faith and not by sight’ (2 Cor 5v7)
We are on a prophetic journey, trying to follow God’s presence, and obey His prophetic words to us.
Therefore, we will eat the good of the land, by being willing and obedient to these things God reveals to us.
What is the good of the land?
‘Reigning in life through the abundance of grace’ which includes all of the following:-
Salvation; healing; deliverance; knowing the Father’s love and our identity as His sons and daughters; having a prosperous soul; being filled with love, joy, and peace; having good healthy relationships with God and people; being richly provided for with some left over to give away; walking in God’s calling upon our lives; using our God given gifts to bless others; receiving grace and favour wherever we go; seeing the promises of God fulfilled in our lives; experiencing the goodness of God in every area of life and ministry; being eager to get out of bed in the morning to begin a new day; God blessing us to be a blessing; seeing our towns and cities being healed and restored; seeing our nation turn back to God; living in the overflow of revival all the days of our lives; enjoying the superabundant life God has given us to the full
CONCLUSION
This is a new season – the dove is here to stay amongst us corporately
We must continue to pursue the presence of the King
We must continually seek God for more power to be His witnesses
We must demonstrate the supernatural power of the Kingdom
We must bring Kingdom values and influence to bear on the seven mountains within society
It's time to be willing and obedient and eat the good of the land
The dove of the Holy Spirit wants to land upon us individually today - are you willing to receive Him?
